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If this is the first page you clicked on check back to the first day of the ninety-two day chronological reading plan of the New Testament. "DAY ONE" If you want the whole plan day by day and not wait find it here at Shalom in the wilderness.

Day Eighteen: John 6

As everyday in this reading plan there is stuff that is repetitive and already noted. Today's short reading we listen to Jesus talk about being the bread of life which offended some of the disciples and he ends up "losing" them. Some people actually desert him being offended and no longer follow him. I could relate to a couple times "walking away" from something that I got offended in. Such as reading the old testament, which is very hard to digest most of it. The worst is the first 5 books. Can you imagine following the statutes which some actually do...can we follow both Jesus and fill all statutes besides sacrifice since that is what Jesus is. Wow, well the time is now for this in fulfilling of the prophesy of end times. We are called not to work for earthly pleasures and necessities but to prepare for eternal life which is a gift to us from heavenly father through Jesus Christ. All we are asked to do is to believe in the one that God sent and receive this grace of all things good through forgiveness of sins. It should be so overwhelming to us in Joy that it makes our hearts say "but wait let me prepare myself in order to please you Lord by making myself humble and ready for your coming." But most of us are too prideful to get it, if we do not seek there is no finding.

26 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

 The crowd ate and was satisfied, the bread that came down from heaven to feed them planted a seed that would either grow of wither. The crowd sought out Jesus until they found him and asked more questions of the other side of the lake to Capernaum. When Jesus explained the way as he always does about their ancestors not receiving bread from heaven by Moses but by his father. Bread from God means bread of life to the world. Of course we are not to be deceived because not everyone receives the bread of life. Jesus thoroughly explains that he is that life that the father gives to the world, and with all the signs and miracles they see and still do not receive him. However, those who do see and do not see, yet receive this gift of grace will never  go hungry or thirsty again. This is the will of the father, that those who believe in his son, the bread of life, will not ever die. What a great promise, knowing that we do not have to be worthy, only believers in receiving this miracle. We learn that no one comes to the father except through the son and the son will not lose who the father has given him. If you are having a hard time understanding this concept it means that if you do not come to know the son then you are not meant to. In the long run the shepherd will tend to his whole flock not just a part of it. This doesn't mean that if someone doesn't know the Lord now that they are never meant to because in perfect timing he reaches the hearts of those who are the children of his father.

33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." 

As you will see and some will feel the same, the Jew's grumbled at the idea that Jesus could think that he was the son of God. But the real picture here is that Jesus comes that we may have life and have it more abundantly with the right to all be children of his father through believing in him. Pretty amazing if you ask me, being family who is raised up for generations based on faith alone.

 44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 

Israel was sent in the wilderness because they were disobedient and did not follow the statutes set before them which caused them to continually sacrifice the blood of animals. They were fed manna and Israel kept thinking about being enslaved in Egypt and complained and grumbled at God no matter how many times he showed himself after freeing them, they hardened their hearts. Sounds familiar and similar to the world today doesn't it? They died because they saw and still rebelled and were immoral. Jesus comes and makes the ultimate sacrifice so that we do not have to falter through sin anymore. Sin is dead to us now because of him, and only he is the reason we will live eternally.

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." 

 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."

What Jesus says causes a lot of distress to people. If taken literally in the physical sense it doesn't really go over well. But when we hear the word and listen to Jesus we are talking and receiving it in the spiritual sense. There are so many verses that I feel are necessary to point out, if you haven't noticed. I feel like they are essential in this chapter when learning that in the world the food and drink we take are not what will keep us alive eternally. This doesn't mean stop eating and drinking while living on earth all together but if you fast you will understand better, if you are having a hard time that is. I love how Jesus teaches, I think it is brilliant because it ensures only those who come to him will understand if they are not meant to fall away. At this point in my understanding I have to trust that there was a reason I didn't receive what he taught before. I fell away on more then one occasion. I took in with joy the idea and seed that was sown but I was foolish still in my ways and ignorant to not keep studying and practicing the teachings. Just like my younger self there were disciples that deserted Jesus and fell away from following his word. We did not fully receive and accept him and his teachings making it easy for the enemy to come in and steal everything that we learned.  Although it may be hard to accept and receive the message that is being taught in this sermon from Jesus in the synagogue in Capernaum in the flesh, the spirit is willing and understands.

63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe."65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."